HAL Targets Domestic Development of Refueling Probe for Tejas MkII

BENGALURU, India – In a major push for self-reliance in India's defense sector, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is spearheading the development of a retractable inflight refueling probe in collaboration with private Indian companies. This crucial component is intended for the Tejas MkII fighter jet program.

Reduced Reliance on Foreign Manufacturers​

The initiative marks a significant step towards reducing dependence on foreign original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for critical Tejas MkII components. The current Tejas Mk1A variant utilizes a fixed inflight refueling probe supplied by Cobham Limited, a British aerospace company.

Advantages of Retractable Design​

A retractable inflight refueling probe offers several advantages over a fixed design. When not in use, the retractable probe minimizes drag, resulting in improved fuel efficiency and overall aircraft performance.

Additionally, it provides better protection from potential damage when the aircraft is not actively refueling.

Potential for Wider Applications​

HAL's ambitions for the domestically developed retractable probe extend beyond the Tejas MkII program. The company aims to integrate this technology into its highly anticipated 5th-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project. This highlights a strategic move towards establishing a standardized, indigenous solution for future Indian fighter aircraft.

Challenges and Opportunities​

The domestic development of a complex system such as a refueling probe presents its own set of challenges. Ensuring that collaborating companies possess the necessary technological expertise and infrastructure will be crucial for the project's success.

However, this initiative also represents an opportunity for Indian companies to showcase their capabilities and become integral players in the nation's defense manufacturing landscape.

 

[GMR]

Except ejection sheet, other components must be indegenised, like this probe, nose cone, powerplant, etc. to call Tejas as really own jet.

 

[sanket]

This is Good opportunity sure shot profit ,so hope pvt players wont want to Miss this opportunity.

 

[Satya Dev]

Why not reverse engineer the IFR on Su30Mki?

 

[iambatman]

This is Good opportunity sure shot profit ,so hope pvt players wont want to Miss this opportunity.

how on earth is it profitable man?
speculation of 200 mk2 and 50 Tedbf will be a total of 250.
what about the development cost setting aside manufacturing cost.

 

[iambatman]

Why not reverse engineer the IFR on Su30Mki?

that one is retraceable and no space on Mk2 and tedbf.

 

[Suman Podder]

how on earth is it profitable man?
speculation of 200 mk2 and 50 Tedbf will be a total of 250.
what about the development cost setting aside manufacturing cost.

You missed the AMCA and many more domestic projects to come in future.

 

[iambatman]

You missed the AMCA and many more domestic projects to come in future.

AMCA will have retraceable probe so not the same design.
and till now i haven't seen a trainer aircraft having IFR probe.

 

[SK]

I hope that Air-Cannon position in Tejas-Mk1A & MK-2 will be changed to the left side of the Fuselage to allow:-

1. Tejas-Mk1A to have a total of 9 Hardpoints
2. Tejas-Mk2 to have a total of 11 Hardpoints

This will allow IAF more opportunities to integrated weapons & avionics.

I hope that Indian-Govt encourages a JV between IAF & IN to invest in:-

1. TEDBF (ORCA)
2. AMCA

TEDBF (ORCA) should be designed to be like Rafale-Jets but with size similar to F-18 SH.

This will insure Logistical synergy, Economy of Scales & large scale employment plus growth in Indian Defence & Aerospace industry.

At the same time, Indian-Govt should encourage a partnership of Indian companies with Airbus & Embraer to manufacture these Aircraft in India:-

1. Airbus A330 => MRTT, AWACS, VIP Travel, Civil transport etc.
2. Airbus A320 => AWACS, ISR, MPA, VIP travel, Civil Transport etc
3. Additional C-295 Aircraft to replace ageing An-32
4. Embraer E-Jet family
5. Embraet E-2 Jet Family
6. Embraer C-390 Millennium to complement C-295, C-130 & C-17
7. Embraer Businesses Jets
8. Embraer Next-Gen Turboprop Aircraft

 

[sanket]

AMCA will have retraceable probe so not the same design.
and till now i haven't seen a trainer aircraft having IFR probe.

Read Article carefully

 

[soham roy]

HAL should give the Indian Public a list of all the foreign components that are used in the Tejas Project, the more I hear, the more it sounds like every single critical component used in Tejas is Foreign, yet HAL call it Indigenous. At this point, Tejas is more like a Foreign Jet, assembled in India, yet somehow it took more than 45 years to build. HAL and DRDO are the prides of India. 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

 

[desigandu]

Good, but isn't it too late to start working on a retractable refueling probe - given first flight of Tejas Mk-2 is planned for late 2035/early 2026???

 

[Ashutosh]

I hope that Air-Cannon position in Tejas-Mk1A & MK-2 will be changed to the left side of the Fuselage to allow:-

1. Tejas-Mk1A to have a total of 9 Hardpoints
2. Tejas-Mk2 to have a total of 11 Hardpoints

This will allow IAF more opportunities to integrated weapons & avionics.

I hope that Indian-Govt encourages a JV between IAF & IN to invest in:-

1. TEDBF (ORCA)
2. AMCA

TEDBF (ORCA) should be designed to be like Rafale-Jets but with size similar to F-18 SH.

This will insure Logistical synergy, Economy of Scales & large scale employment plus growth in Indian Defence & Aerospace industry.

At the same time, Indian-Govt should encourage a partnership of Indian companies with Airbus & Embraer to manufacture these Aircraft in India:-

1. Airbus A330 => MRTT, AWACS, VIP Travel, Civil transport etc.
2. Airbus A320 => AWACS, ISR, MPA, VIP travel, Civil Transport etc
3. Additional C-295 Aircraft to replace ageing An-32
4. Embraer E-Jet family
5. Embraet E-2 Jet Family
6. Embraer C-390 Millennium to complement C-295, C-130 & C-17
7. Embraer Businesses Jets
8. Embraer Next-Gen Turboprop Aircraft

Bro Tejas mk2 ke toh pehle hi 12 hardpoints hai.... moreover usme se vo 9 BVRAAM, 2WVRAAM, or ek bomb simultaneously carry kar sakta hai( highest BVR carrying capacity of a single engine fighter)

 

[Avada kedavra]

HAL should give the Indian Public a list of all the foreign components that are used in the Tejas Project, the more I hear, the more it sounds like every single critical component used in Tejas is Foreign, yet HAL call it Indigenous. At this point, Tejas is more like a Foreign Jet, assembled in India, yet somehow it took more than 45 years to build. HAL and DRDO are the prides of India. 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

Of course. The main radar is Israeli, small avionics are either French or indigenous. Fuel management system and the jet engine itself is American.
Ejection seat and refuel probe is british.
Essentially the only thing indigenous is the metallic body. Everything inside is imported.
The basic idea was to first let this plane fly with foreign components. Then slowly and slowly one by one replace all of them with indigenous Alternative.
Just to get to the first part It took 40 years.
And don't forget even till the very end air force did not completely embrace the Tejas. The govt had to shove it down their throats!

 

[Sandeep]

Of course. The main radar is Israeli, small avionics are either French or indigenous. Fuel management system and the jet engine itself is American.
Ejection seat and refuel probe is british.
Essentially the only thing indigenous is the metallic body. Everything inside is imported.
The basic idea was to first let this plane fly with foreign components. Then slowly and slowly one by one replace all of them with indigenous Alternative.
Just to get to the first part It took 40 years.
And don't forget even till the very end air force did not completely embrace the Tejas. The govt had to shove it down their throats!

Israeli radars will be replaced with indigenous Uttam. Avionics is Indian. Also a lot of the foreign parts used have got a large amount of indigenous content in them as it's made in India with the technology transferred. Also many foreign parts, components and equipment directly imported will get replaced with our indigenous content and products as the private sector can help in indigenising it much quicker. So while we may not have designed some of the foreign products and technology we have manufactured them and there's a large amount of 70% indigenous content which will grow.

 

[Official]

I think the retractable probe would be a good upgrade for the Tejas programme. This would enable us to slowly upgrade and modernise the Tejas fleet into a capable 4.5 gen fighter. Tejas programme is on a similiar trajectory to the F16 programme that US Mil developed. Initially lacking but slowly modernised and made a capable multirole. Good export opportunity to export to other developing nations in the future who would like to acquire 4.5 gen fighters in the next 10-15 years.

 

[Sandeep]

It's nice if they can develop a retractable probe to refuel our jet but it's not a major critical necessity as we can just install a fixed version like we did on the Tejas MK1A jet so it can easily be done if they are struggling to develop a retractable probe indigenously ot it will take a long time and delay manufacturing the Tejas MK2 jets even more. As for the technology and capabilities they are growing stronger and it will develop any technology required now.

 

[Netee]

HAL needs to put a second engine on the plane to get it back to base if one engine fails. Also it should match the amount of rockets that the Chinese J-17 has.

 

[kumar]

HAL should give the Indian Public a list of all the foreign components that are used in the Tejas Project, the more I hear, the more it sounds like every single critical component used in Tejas is Foreign, yet HAL call it Indigenous. At this point, Tejas is more like a Foreign Jet, assembled in India, yet somehow it took more than 45 years to build. HAL and DRDO are the prides of India. 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

Good assumptions. Instead of DRDO, maybe u should open a startup and develop jet engine to power tejas. After all others are just incompetent. If u are not able to, then atleast retractable probe. These should be ready within a year if not decade by your assumptions.

 

[kumar]

This is Good opportunity sure shot profit ,so hope pvt players wont want to Miss this opportunity.

Let's see, how serious our private sector is todo real r&d.

 

[Rajesh]

Old story .such articles has been coming since 2-3 years esp along with nose cone. We should also indigenise the present refueling probe of mk1A atleast for the later 97 mk1A's and atleast make the ejection seat of either Russian or British one in india.